Player flute piano



Feb 14.1928.

R. R. LEAL PLAYER FLUTE PIANO Filed D60. 11, 1925 14 w INVENTOR.

. ficam/o EL an 6 AT ORNEY Ill Patented 14, 1928.

RICARDO B. LEAIJ, OF H. MATAIvZOROS,

unites, MEXICO.

PLAYER, FLUTE PIANO.

Application filed December 11, 1825.

This invention relates to improvements in pianos or the like, particularly to an attachment thereto adapter. to imitate the tune of aflute or like instrument.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a flute attachment for pianos adapted to be readily installed into any type of player piano now on the market.

A further object of he invention is the provision of a flute attachment for pianos adapted to be operated by the keys thereof by the intermediary of a valve-controlled compressed air motor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision or" a flute etc. attachment for pianos of a simple and inexpensive construction, yet durable and positively acting.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds and will then be specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part or this disclosure:

1 is a front elevation of a piano to which the attachment constructed according to the present invention can be secured.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the piano with the flute attachment constructed ac- 30 cording to the invention installed therein.

Fig. 3 is a detail iew of a flute, fragmentary, and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. at is a section on line 4i l of Figure 3.

A piano of the well known ordinary construction having a casing 10, key-board 11, pedals 12, motor 13 and keys 14 has secured within the casing by means of a bracket 15 or the like a flute pipe 16 provided with a plurality or" valves, each comprising the customary opening 17 and cover 18 engaging in the opening with a valve pad 19 at one end while the opposite end of the cover is pressed up by means of a spring 20, and the cover 18 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 21. The flute valves are operated by means of a bar or arm 22 pressing at one end against the cover end, and having its opposite end attached to one arm of a bell-crank lever fulcrumed at 23 having an operating member formed at its opposite end, as at 24. lhe other arm of the bellcrank lever, 25, carries the customary hammer 26 adapted to engage the strings 27 and resting, in its state of r st against acushion 280 Serial No. 24,698.

The operating member 2% is engaged by a similar member 29 at the inner ends of the keys 14: pivoted intermediate their ends as at 30.

The flute tube has an opening in its rear wall to which is attached a pipe 31, leading from an air compressor 32 within the piano casing, and a control valve 38 of any well known, suitable construction is provided to normally close the connection between air compressor and flute pipe and is adapted to be operated by the foot pedal by means of a wire connecting the valve stem with said pedal. The pipe 31 is adapted, as shown in Fig. 2, to dis harge blast of air on the side of the flute pipe 16 at an angle to the surface thereof. There is an opening 16' in the pipe 16 similar in form to the opening of an ordinary flute tube, through which some of the air passes setting up vibrations within the tube.

The operation of my device will be entirely clear from the above description, if the flute is to be sounded, the valve 33 is opened by means of the foot pedal and the key corresponding to the required note to be played by the flute upon its operation will open and close the flute valve.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention as an example, it is to be understood, that such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims can be made without departure from the spirit of the invention and the principle involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Leters Patent is:

1. A flute attachment for pianos, comprising a flute pipe having openings therein, valves pivotally mounted on said pipe for closing said openings; a bracket for attaching said flute pipe in the piano casing, a bell-crank lever having an operating member at one arm, a piano key having a similar operating member at its inner end adapted to age said first named operating memher to o te said valves, and an air supp y for l flute, and means for controlling sail in supply.

2. A wind instrument unit for pianos comprising a tubular flute member having spaced openings therein, valves for closing said openings to vary the resonating length said flute member, and operating means connected with the keys of said piano adapted to open and close saidvalves for producing predetermined notes in music.

3. A wind instrument unit for pianos comprising a flute pipe having a plurality of openings therein, valve mechanism for closing said 'openings, means for supplying Wind to sand flute pipe, means for controlling the supply of Wind to said'flute pipe, valve operating mechanism connected With the keys of said piano for controlling the opening of said valves to vary the resonating length of said flute pipe for producing a predetermined note When one of said piano keys is depressed.

4. The combination with a piano, of a flute pipe having a plurality of'spaced openings said flute pipe, and means 'operatively con-C nected with the keys of said piano for opening said valves when said keys are depressed for varying the resonating length. of said flute pipe.

In testimonywhereof I have afiixed my 7 signature.

RICARDO it. LEAL. 

